---

Postal Services Bill [HL]

The Minister has reassured me that I was on the right track before. He has not changed his position, and I have not changed mine. This should be a trust-based scheme. There may be an opportunity a bit further down the road to do this. It is a bit odd when a Government such as ours cannot see the need to have a dispute resolution procedure as Amendment 56 suggests. I make no bones about it. These amendments are intended to restrict the powers of the Secretary of State. To my certain knowledge, we have had 63 years of political interference in the running of the Post Office. If these powers are unrestrained then there will be further interference. If I am wrong about that, I would simply ask the Government to include in the legislation a form of words that can dissuade me and others of like mind that this provision will not give undue powers to the Secretary of State to the detriment of the trustees or the members of the scheme. The Minister has not convinced me. I did not think that he would. I suppose that he is not surprised that I am not convinced. Having said that, I will look at what the Government say in trying to assuage the fears of those who do not want this super-power to be invested in the Secretary of State. I nearly said the Superman but will quickly retract that. For the moment, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 58 withdrawn. Amendments 59 and 60 not moved. Clause 17 agreed.